Forum:
Since we`ve had the cold snap I`ve had starting problems with my 89 F75. Usually it starts first time , but yesterday morning when it was -9 here it wouldn`t start and was cranking slowly . I charged the battery up fully , tightened the alternator belt just in case and it started, this was past midday and the temp had gone up. I drove round a bit yesterday afternoon and had no more probs. Tried starting again this morning - same problem. I`ve now bought a new battery as I was convinced that it was a classic low temp battery not holding charge problem. I put the new battery on , and you`ve guessed it same as it was with the old one. Is this just a coincidence , that the battery I bought wasn`t charged fully, or is it a sign that something else is amiss? It has started ok now btw once I`ve given the battery a quick charge, but again the temp outside has risen
Poor starting
A few items to check. The first is the output from the alternator. Although you have tightened the belt is the alternator producing enough output. The Volt meter should show 13.5 to 14 Volts.
Secondly is check for rust on your earth attachment to the body. A bad connection hear can drain a battery.
Finally are you starting the car and drawing a lot of power on a short run, eg lihts rear screendemister, heater fan. Again the Volt meter should show a much reduced charge than is necessary.
Winter is always the time that shows poor eletrics and it is usually the Battery, poor connections or the Alternator that is at fault.
OLDMINIMAN
M J Young
Your Starter For 10
Agree with Oldminiman, to check the earth connection clean a portion of the starter motor body, fit a jump lead to it, fit the other end to the battery earth, go for a cold start and if it starts normally it is a bad earth.
Is the engine or starter motor wet, if so it could be frozen up and require a lot of power to crank the engine over, not a common problem but one i've seen a few times.
Is the starter motor or solonoid on its way out, pitted solonoid contacts or worn starter motor brushes give this problem also.
A possible solution is to pre warm the engine, use a paraffin heater and place it under the sump, this will give the engine some heat through the night, these heaters are still available.
Another possible scenario is water in the wiring, this will cause the battery to slowly drain over a long period, such as overnight, coat all plugs with Waxoyl, this is not conductive and unlike WD40 does not corrode the copper contacts over time.